WelCom December 2019
On Tuesday 5 November, within days of returning from Rome where the New Zealand bishops met with Pope Francis, Cardinal John Dew visited the Diocese of Palmerston North. The purpose was to meet with diocesan staff and priests to discuss the interim and future leadership for the diocese following the resignation of Bishop Charles Drennan in October.
Cardinal John also joined Bishop Peter Cullinane, Bishop Owen Dolan and Monsignor Brian Walsh to concelebrate midday Mass for parishioners at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, with the support of several priests from the diocese.
Cardinal John meets with diocesan staff. 
Teresa Edwards reads at the midday Mass.
Earlier in the morning Diocesan Centre staff formally welcomed Cardinal John. Korty Wilson, Kaiwhakarite Māori Apostolate Co-ordinator, Tony Murphy, General Manager, and Nick Wilson, Young Catholics Team Leader, led the welcome. After an exchange of greetings and waiāta Cardinal John addressed the group and relayed a message from Pope Francis received during the bishops’ ad limina visit. He said Pope Francis was praying for everyone in the diocese and in Aotearoa New Zealand at this time.
Cardinal John confirmed Pope Francis has appointed him as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Palmerston North until such time as a new bishop is appointed to lead the diocese. ‘I ask for your prayers in this role,’ he said.
Cardinal John has appointed Monsignor Brian Walsh as Vicar General for the diocese and he has arranged for Fr Joe Grayland to take over the responsibilities of day-to-day administration at this time.
Cardinal John with diocesan priests. 
Korty Wilson leads the waiāta.
Informal discussions continued over morning tea.
In his homily at midday Mass Cardinal John said, ‘This time last week the New Zealand Bishops spent over an hour sitting and chatting with Pope Francis. It was a real privilege. We talked about the state of the Church in New Zealand and some of the challenges we face. I told him of our sadness at the recent resignation of Bishop Charles as bishop of this diocese.
‘Pope Francis is very calm and peaceful. On a previous visit to Rome, a bishop recalling a similar situation, told me of Pope Francis’ response: “I’m at peace about this, you should be too”. Despite all that is levelled at him, Pope Francis always says, ‘pray for me’. At our bishops’ meeting we responded by telling him that the people of New Zealand are praying for him.
‘Think of Pope Francis’ ability to be calm and peaceful and his plea to others to always be at peace, in relation to Paul’s letter to the Romans we have heard today. Paul said, ‘Though many we are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another.’ That is really the message Monsignor Brian had on the first page of WelCom in November, ‘Let us go forward together seeking unity and remember our focus is always Jesus Christ.’
Pahiatua Polish Children’s 75th Reunion
WelCom December 2019 Phil Cotter, a life-long parishioner of St Brigid’s parish, Pahiatua, remembers as a seven-year-old welcoming the three trains carrying the Polish children and their care-givers in 1944….
Care for our common home
Manaakihia tō tātou kāinga From Garden To Table WelCom December 2019 ‘Grow, harvest, prepare, share’ is the motto for ‘Garden to Table’. It’s a programme founded in 2008 to teach…
New Zealand Catholic Bishops Meet Pope
WelCom December 2019 The New Zealand Catholic bishops met Pope Francis for an 80-minute private audience in the Vatican on Monday 28 October during their Ad Limina visit to Rome. …